12.08.2010

Illegal Immigrant Students Await Votes on Legal Status: "With both houses of Congress set to vote this week on a bill that would give legal status to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant students, one of those students will wait for news of the outcome at an immigration detention center in Arizona . . . Hector Lopez, in a 2008 Oregon school photo, was deported to Mexico in August and is seeking asylum in the U.S. The student, Hector Lopez, 21, was deported to Mexico in August after having lived with his family in Oregon since he was an infant. After two months of trying to find his bearings and a job in Mexico City, Mr. Lopez, who does not speak Spanish, traveled to the border last month and turned himself in to the immigration authorities, requesting asylum in the United States."

Running update: after three days of decent length runs (7, 8, 7.5) and a day of bootcamp plus 20 min lap swim, I have been struggling. Yesterday, I managed to drag myself out of bed, but did a paltry 3.5 miles. My legs, my heart, my lungs - they were all NOT into it. This morning was the same. It's really frustrating to feel like I've been working so hard for months to get into great shape and get my body healthy and still feel so weak sometimes. But I'm trying (trying) to be patient and have faith that I will continue to see improvement. I definitely have the appetite of an athlete - I've been eating 5 small meals a day (including lots of banana and peanut butter, my staples). The nice thing is that as I get healthier, my body definitely craves healthier foods, but still, it can be hard to adjust to being hungry so often, especially as someone who has some shame and guilt issues around eating.

Always a favorite, and a welcome reminder: "Do you have doubts about life? Are you unsure if it is really worth the trouble? Look at the sky: that is for you. Look at each person’s face as you pass them on the street: those faces are for you. And the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire underneath the ground: all these things are for you. They are as much for you as they are for other people. Remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing. Stand up and face the east. Now praise the sky and praise the light within each person under the sky. It’s okay to be unsure. But praise, praise, praise." - Miranda July